TORPEDOES

General Information:

A torpedo is a self propelled underwater weapon. They are launched from surface ships, submarines. They are also launched from aircrafts (planes).1 Torpedoes were really useful in WWII. They were used to destroy boats.

external image WTUS_PreWWII_Mark-3_pic.jpg 9 This is an image of a torpedo being fired off of a ship.


WHAT A TORPEDO WAS USED FOR:

Torpedoes were used to damage submarines and ships. They were also used for attacking big groups of cargo ships and fast warships. They were used to defeat deep running submarines.

external image submarine-torpedoes-color.jpg 8 This is an image of a torpedo being loaded.


WHAT EVERY PART OF THE TORPEDO WAS USED FOR:

The torpedo was a very advanced weapon of its age, also meaning it would take a lot of money to make or buy. It is made up of a pistol, a warhead, then there is the depth-keeping machine, and lastly there is the propelling and guidance system. The pistol is a piece of machinery used to detonate the torpedo. The warhead is the part that is used to punch through the target. The propelling and guidance system prevents the pistol from exploding from the sea pressure. The propelling part did the moving and the guidance part directed the torpedo to its target.


TORPEDOES DURING WWII:

The torpedoes played a big part in the war. Torpedoes could weigh from a few hundred pounds to a couple thousand pounds. There explosive charge averaged from two hundred pounds to four-hundred and fifty pounds. 4 During World War 2 the Mark-9 torpedo was used in the R-boats. The Mark-9 had a range twice as long as the Mark-10, but was much slower. 5


external image FS_Redoutable_torpilles.jpg This is an image of a torpedo that is stowed away inside a submarine cabin ready to be fired.


JAPANESE TORPEDEOS:

The Mk46 torpedo is made to attack high classed submarines. This torpedo is in 25 countries. Also this torpedo is really fast and tricky, but the torpedo does not impact deep water. When shooting a torpedo you want to be as close as possible to your target, so the best time for torpedo use is at night.6
The Japanese were skilled with their weapons and planned for night combat. Also the Japanese torpedoes had extremely long ranges. 7


RESOURCES:
1. http://www.worldbookonline.com/wb/Article?id=ar561700&st=world+war+2+torpedos
2. http://www.chinfo.navy.mil/navpalib/cno/n87/usw/issue_14/torpedoes.html
3. http://www.uboataces.com/weapon-torpedo.shtml
4. http://www.navweaps.com/Weapons/WTGER_PreWWII.htm
5. http://www.fleetsubmarine.com/torpedoes.html
6. http://www.navy.mil/navydata/fact_display.asp?cid=2100&tid=900&ct=2
7. http://www.friesian.com/destroy.htm
8. http://www.axishistory.com/fileadmin/user_upload/s/submarine-torpedoes-color.jpg
9. http://www.navweaps.com/Weapons/WTUS_PreWWII.htm